Disc cartridge

ABSTRACT

A disc cartridge stores a disc that has a first side with a first functional portion and a second side. The disc cartridge includes: a cartridge body including a disc storage portion, a chucking opening and a head opening, where the disc storage portion has a disc window and a bottom and stores the disc therein so that the first side thereof is exposed through the disc window; the chucking opening is provided on the bottom of the disc storage portion so as to get the disc chucked externally; and the head opening is also provided on the bottom of the disc storage portion so as to allow a head, which reads and/or writes data from/on the second side of the disc, to access the second side; a shutter, supported to, and movable with respect to, the cartridge body so as to expose or cover at least the head opening; and a second functional portion, which is provided for the cartridge body and which produces an audiovisual effect by cooperating with the first functional portion of the disc.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a disk such as an optical disc or amagnetic disk and a disc cartridge to store the disk therein. Thepresent invention also relates to a disc drive for reading and writingdata from/on the disk.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, as information technologies have been developed remarkably,the storage densities of various types of disk-shaped data storagemedia, including optical discs and magnetic disks, have been increasedsignificantly. Meanwhile, a broader and broader variety of data can nowbe stored on such a data storage medium. Thus, not just computer dataand software but also music, video and numerous other types of data arenow storable on such storage media.

Such a data storage medium is normally provided as a circular disc witha data recording side and a label side. Examples of such discs includeCDs and DVDs. On the other hand, another type of data storage medium,including a circular disc with single or double data recording sides anda disc cartridge that covers the disc entirely to store it, is also usedextensively. Examples of such data storage media include MDs, DVD-RAMsand MOs.

The data stored on each of these data storage media is not perceivableto human beings in themselves. Thus, in conventional data storage media,information representing the data (or contents) stored thereon isprovided as printing on the label side of a disc or on a predeterminedarea of a disc cartridge. For example, as for a data storage medium onwhich music or movie data is stored, the titles of the musical tunes orthat of the movie is typically shown there. If the given data storagemedium allows the user to write data thereon, then the user notes downsome information describing the contents of the stored data either onthe label side or on the predetermined area of its disc cartridge.

If such a data storage medium with some data stored thereon needs to besold as a product, then that information printed on the label side ofthe disc or on the disc cartridge plays a key role in making the productattractive enough for buyers. This is because the buyers cannot see whattype of data is contained there just by looking at the data storagemedium itself.

In the conventional data storage media, however, that area on whichinformation describing the contents is printed has limited sizes, andmethods of providing such information on that area are limited, too. Forexample, the printable area on the label side of the disc or on the disccartridge has a predetermined shape. Accordingly, no novel or highlyvisualized printing is allowed to be provided on that area fordesigners. Also, in a CD, for example, a data storage layer is locatedat a depth of 0.1 mm as measured from the surface of the label side.Thus, the designer is never allowed to provide any 3D printing oretching having some level differences on the label side.

Furthermore, as for a data storage medium in which a disc is stored in adisc cartridge, once the disc that has been stored in the disc cartridgeis exchanged for another one, the information printed on the disccartridge might be different from the data actually stored on the disc.In that case, the information that is printed or described on the disccartridge would become meaningless.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In order to overcome the problems described above, an object of thepresent invention is to provide a disc and a disc cartridge that canachieve novel audiovisual effects in presenting information about thecontents stored thereon. Another object of the present invention is toprovide a disc drive for such a disc or disc cartridge.

A disc cartridge according to the present invention stores a disc thathas a first side with a first functional portion and a second side. Thedisc cartridge includes a cartridge body, a shutter and a secondfunctional portion. The cartridge body includes a disc storage portion,a chucking opening and a head opening. The disc storage portion has adisc window and a bottom and stores the disc therein so that the firstside thereof is exposed through the disc window. The chucking opening isprovided on the bottom of the disc storage portion so as to get the discchucked externally. The head opening is also provided on the bottom ofthe disc storage portion so as to allow a head, which reads and/orwrites data from/on the second side of the disc, to access the secondside of the disc. The shutter is supported to, and movable with respectto, the cartridge body so as to expose or cover at least the headopening. The second functional portion is provided for the cartridgebody and produces an audiovisual effect by cooperating with the firstfunctional portion of the disc.

In one preferred embodiment, the first and second functional portionsproduce a visual effect by cooperating with each other.

In another preferred embodiment, the first and second functionalportions produce an audio effect by cooperating with each other.

In another preferred embodiment, audiovisual information is stored onthe second side of the disc, and the audiovisual effect is associatedwith the audiovisual information on the second side of the disc.

In another preferred embodiment, the first functional portion is a firstdesign provided on the first side, the second functional portion is asecond design provided on a portion of the upper surface of thecartridge body near the disc window, and the first and second designsare combined together to make up a third design that looks like a singlecontinuous design.

In another preferred embodiment, the first design is a picture drawn onthe first side and the second design is a picture drawn on the uppersurface.

In another preferred embodiment, the first and second designs areplanar.

In another preferred embodiment, the first and second designs areembossed.

In another preferred embodiment, the depth of the first embossed designis substantially equal to that of the second embossed design.

In another preferred embodiment, the first side of the disc and theupper surface of the cartridge body are textured.

In another preferred embodiment, the first and second designs areholograms.

In another preferred embodiment, the first functional portion is atablet that is provided on the first side to allow the user to draw orerase any traces thereon or therefrom, and the second functional portionis an erasing portion that is provided for the cartridge body and isused for erasing the traces that have been drawn on the tablet.

In another preferred embodiment, the tablet includes a magnetic body soas to allow the user to draw the traces by bringing a magnet or anothermagnetic body close to the surface of the tablet.

In another preferred embodiment, the tablet includes a plurality ofsmall rooms, each being filled with a viscous fluid and a magneticpowder.

In another preferred embodiment, the erasing portion is a magnet platethat is provided on the bottom of the disc storage portion of thecartridge body.

In another preferred embodiment, the traces that have been drawn on thetablet are erased by rotating the disc within the disc storage portionof the cartridge body.

In another preferred embodiment, the first functional portion is amatrix-addressed display device that is provided on the first side andthat includes a liquid crystal, organic EL or inorganic EL material,while the second functional portion is provided for the cartridge bodyand includes a control section for driving the matrix-addressed displaydevice, a memory for storing image data to be presented on thematrix-addressed display device, and a power supply for supplying powerto the matrix-addressed display device.

In another preferred embodiment, the second functional portion furtherincludes a loudspeaker provided for the cartridge body.

In another preferred embodiment, the first functional portion furtherincludes a transparent tablet on the surface of the matrix-addresseddisplay device such that information fed into the tablet is displayed onthe matrix-addressed display device.

In another preferred embodiment, the first functional portion is aplanar loudspeaker that is provided on the first side, while the secondfunctional portion includes a memory for storing audio information to bereproduced through the planar loudspeaker, a control section forconverting the audio information and transmitting a signal to the planarloudspeaker, and a power supply for supplying power to the controlsection.

In another preferred embodiment, the second functional portion furtherincludes a microphone that is provided for the cartridge body, and thecontrol section converts sound, recorded with the microphone, into theaudio information and then stores the information in the memory.

In another preferred embodiment, the disc includes a disc-side terminal,which is connected to the first functional portion and which is providedon the outer periphery of the disc, and the cartridge body includes abody-side terminal which is connected to the second functional portion.

In another preferred embodiment, the disc cartridge further includes adisc holding portion for holding the disc thereon while the shutter isclosed, and the disc-side and body-side terminals are contactable witheach other while the disc is being held by the disc holding portion.

In another preferred embodiment, the disc-side terminal is a pluralityof concentric ringlike conductive regions provided along the outerperiphery of the disc.

In another preferred embodiment, the disc has a disc-side mark, thecartridge body has a body-side mark, and when the disc is rotated withinthe disc storage portion of the cartridge body such that the disc-sideand body-side marks are aligned with each other, the disc-side andbody-side terminals contact with each other.

In another preferred embodiment, the disc includes a disc-side terminal,which is connected to the first functional portion, provided on thefirst side and has a conductive surface, while the cartridge bodyincludes a body-side terminal, which is connected to the secondfunctional portion, provided on the upper surface of the cartridge bodyand has a conductive surface. When the disc-side and body-side terminalsare touched with fingers at the same time, the first and secondfunctional portions are electrically connected together.

A disc drive according to the present invention includes: a supportingportion into which the disc cartridge of one of claims 1 to 16 isloadable, a disc having a first side with a first functional portion anda second side being stored in the disc cartridge; a spindle motor formounting and rotating the disc thereon; a head, which is able to readand/or write data from/on the second side of the disc; a sensor fordetecting a rotational angular position of the spindle motor when thedisc is mounted on the spindle motor; and a control section forcontrolling the spindle motor in accordance with a command to eject thedisc cartridge such that the spindle motor stops at the rotationalangular position when the disc is mounted thereon.

Another disc drive according to the present invention includes: asupporting portion into which the disc cartridge of one of claims 1 to16 is loadable, a disc having a first side with a first functionalportion and a second side being stored in the disc cartridge; a spindlemotor for mounting and rotating the disc thereon; a head, which is ableto read and/or write data from/on the second side of the disc; a sensorfor detecting a mark on the second side of the disc; and a controlsection for controlling the spindle motor such that the spindle motorstops at a position where the mark of the disc is detected.

A disc according to the present invention includes a data storage layer,a first substrate, and a second substrate. The data storage layer issandwiched between the first and second substrates. Data is read orwritten from/on the data storage layer through the second substrate. Thefirst substrate has a thickness of 0.5 mm or more.

In one preferred embodiment, the surface of the first substrate isprovided with an embossed design including concave and convex portions.

In another preferred embodiment, the first substrate includes a firstlayer, of which the surface is provided with the embossed designincluding the concave and convex portions, and a second layer, which istransparent and covers the surface of the first layer.

In another preferred embodiment, the design is related to the datastored on the data storage layer.

In another preferred embodiment, the concave and convex portions of thedesign have level differences of 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm.

In another preferred embodiment, the first substrate includes a firstlayer to support the data storage layer thereon and a second layer,which is provided as a film on the surface of the first layer. A scratchmark can be easily left on, or erased from, the second layer with a coinor a fingernail.

In another preferred embodiment, the second layer is provided inmultiple areas on the surface of the first layer. By leaving a scratchmark on a particular portion of the second layer in the process step oftesting the disc, property information about its warpage, eccentricityor center of mass is displayed.

In another preferred embodiment, predetermined information is printed onthe surface of the first layer and is disclosed by scratching the secondlayer off.

In another preferred embodiment, the information is a quiz answer, alottery winning mark or foretold future.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration for adisc cartridge for use in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an exploded state ofthe disc cartridge shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state of the disc cartridgeshown in FIG. 1 in which its shutters are closed with its cartridgeupper shell and the disc removed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state of the disc cartridgeshown in FIG. 1 in which its shutters are opened with its cartridgeupper shell and the disc removed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state of the disc cartridgeshown in FIG. 1 in which its shutters are closed with the disc removed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state of the disc cartridgeshown in FIG. 1 in which its shutters are opened with the disc removed.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section ofthe disc cartridge shown in FIG. 1 that passes the center of the disc.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of the shutterof the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a partial plan view illustrating an operating portion and itssurrounding portion of the disc cartridge shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a stopper member of the disccartridge shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a data storage mediumaccording to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the data storage medium shown inFIG. 1 as taken in the thickness direction thereof.

FIGS. 13A and 13B schematically illustrate the size of the label planeof a conventional disc and the size of a rectangular displayable area ofa data storage medium according to the present invention, respectively.

FIG. 14 schematically shows a configuration for a disc drive for use inthe data storage medium shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 schematically shows a configuration for another disc drive foruse in the data storage medium shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a data storage mediumaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the data storage medium shown inFIG. 16 as taken in the thickness direction thereof.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a data storage mediumaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating a data storage mediumaccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a data storage mediumaccording to a modified example of the third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a data storage mediumaccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration foranother disc cartridge that can be used in the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

First, the common structural features of disc cartridges according tothe present invention will be described. The disc cartridge disclosed inPCT International Application Publication No. WO 02/056313 and itscorresponding U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/289,963 or the disccartridge disclosed in PCT International Application Publication No. WO03/041076 and its corresponding U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______(which was filed on Jun. 17, 2003 by an attorney with a docket number210407.0052/052 US) may be used in any preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. Thus, the disclosure of PCT International ApplicationPublication No. WO 02/056313, U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/289,963, PCT International Application Publication No. WO 03/041076and U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (which was filed on Jun. 17,2003 by an attorney with a docket number 210407.0052/052 US) is herebyincorporated by reference.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are respectively a perspective view and an explodedperspective view illustrating an exemplary disc cartridge 301 for use inthe present invention. First, the structure of the disc cartridge 301will be outlined with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The disc 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes first and second sides. Thefirst side of the disc, i.e., a label side 100B on which its label isnormally printed, is illustrated in FIG. 1, while the second side of thedisc 100, i.e., the data recording side 100A, is illustrated as the backsurface in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the disc cartridge 301 includes a cartridgelower shell 11, a cartridge upper shell 12, a pair of shutters 21 and 22and stopper portions 23.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge lower shell 11 includes a chuckingopening 11 c and a head opening 11 h. The chucking opening 11 c isprovided to allow a chucking member (e.g., a spindle motor for rotatingthe disc 100) to enter the disc cartridge 301 externally. The headopening 11 h is provided to allow a head, which reads and/or writes datafrom/on the data recording side 100A of the disc 100, to enter the disccartridge 301 and access the data recording side 100A. The cartridgelower shell 11 faces the data recording side 100A of the disc 100. Also,the head opening 11 h reaches a side surface of the cartridge lowershell 11.

The cartridge upper shell 12 includes a circular disc window 12 w,through which the disc 100 can be introduced and removed into/from thedisc cartridge 301 and which expands over the entire projection area ofthe disc 100 to expose the upper surface of the disc. The cartridgeupper and lower shells 12 and 11 are adhered or welded together at theirouter periphery, thereby forming a cartridge body 10.

A disc storage portion 10 d for storing the disc 100 therein is definedby a first inner surface 11 u of the cartridge lower shell 11 and asecond inner surface 12 i of the cartridge upper shell 12. The firstinner surface 11 u is opposed to the data recording side 100A of thedisc 100, while the second inner surface 12 i has a substantiallycylindrical shape and defines the disc window 12 w inside. That is tosay, the first inner surface 11 u becomes the bottom of the disc storageportion 10 d.

In the disc storage portion 10 d, a gap, which is wide enough to allowthe disc 100 to rotate freely, is provided between the second innersurface 12 i and the disc 100. Also, the top of the disc storage portion10 d is the disc window 12 w so that the disc 100 stored in the discstorage portion 10 d has one side thereof exposed through the discwindow 12 w.

The stopper portions 23 are provided in a removable state for thecartridge upper shell 12 so as to partially protrude into the discwindow 12 w. In this embodiment, two stopper portions 23 are provided asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. On the other hand, another stopper portion 12 sis provided for the cartridge upper shell 12 so as to protrude into thedisc window 12 w. The stopper portion 12 s forms an integral part of thecartridge upper shell 12. The two stopper portions 23 and the stopperportion 12 s are arranged approximately at regular intervals around thecircumference of the disc window 12 w for the purpose of preventing thedisc 100 from dropping down from the disc window 12 w whether theshutters are closed or opened. These stopper portions 23 and 12 s canprevent the dropping particularly effectively when this disc cartridgeis vertically loaded into a disc drive and used.

The shutters 21 and 22 are provided between the data recording side 100Aof the disc 100 and the inner surface 11 u of the disc storage portion10 d. The shutters 21 and 22 include rotation holes 21 u and 22 u,respectively. These rotation holes 21 u and 22 u are engaged in a freelyrotatable state with a pair of rotation shafts 11 s, which is locatedoutside of the disc storage portion 10 d of the cartridge body 10 andopposite to the head opening 11 h. Thus, the shutters 21 and 22 rotateon the rotation shafts 11 s so as to expose or cover the chucking andhead openings 11 c and 11 h.

A cam 21 c and a follower 22 c are provided near the rotation holes 21 uand 22 u of the shutters 21 and 22, respectively. The cam 21 c and thefollower 22 c have mutually engaging shapes and together make up aninterlocking mechanism 20 c for opening and closing the shutters 21 and22 while interlocking them with each other.

The respective surfaces of the shutters 21 and 22, which are opposed tothe data recording side 100A of the disc, are covered with protectivelayers 21 p and 22 p for the purpose of preventing the disc 100 fromgetting scratched or any dust from entering the data recording side 100Athereof.

The protective layers 21 p and 22 p may be appropriately selected fromthe group consisting of an anti-scratching nonwoven fabric, a dustproofnonwoven fabric, an anti-scratching coating layer and a dustproofcoating layer. In this embodiment, sheets of a dustproof nonwoven fabricare adhered or ultrasonic welded as the protective layers 21 p and 22 p.

Shutter springs 31 and 32 are provided outside of the disc storageportion 10 d for the shutters 21 and 22, respectively. These springs 31and 32 apply an elastic force to the shutters 21 and 22 in such adirection as to close the shutters 21 and 22. Optionally, the elasticforce may also be applied from any other type of elastic members to theshutters 21 and 22 in that closing direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the disc cartridge 301 includes disc holdingportions 21 a, 21 b, 22 a and 22 b at both ends of the shutters 21 and22. Each of these disc holding portions 21 a, 21 b, 22 a and 22 b has adownwardly tapered slope at the end of the shutter 21 or 22 to grip theouter edge of the disc 100 while the shutters 21 and 22 are closed. Thestructure and operation of the disc holding portions 21 a, 21 b, 22 aand 22 b will be described in further detail later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface 10 f of the cartridge body 10 (orthe cartridge upper shell 12) is parallel to the disc 100 to be stored.In addition, two concave portions 10 c are further provided on two ofthe side surfaces of the cartridge body 10. These concave portions 10 cmay be used as either pull-in notches or positioning recesses when thedisc cartridge 301 is loaded into a disc drive or when the cartridge 301is stored in a changer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the shutters 21and 22 cover the chucking and head openings 11 c and 11 h with thecartridge upper shell 12 and the disc 100 removed. In FIG. 3, the discholding portions 21 a, 21 b, 22 a and 22 b of the shutters 21 and 22 arelocated at such positions as to grip the outer edge of the disc 100 (notshown).

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the shutters 21and 22 expose the chucking and head openings 11 c and 11 h with thecartridge upper shell 12 and the disc 100 removed. As a result of therotation of the shutters 21 and 22 on their rotation holes 21 u and 22u, respectively, the chucking and head openings 11 c and 11 h are nowexposed. Also, as the shutters 21 and 22 have rotated, the disc holdingportions 21 a, 21 b, 22 a and 22 b have also rotated on the rotationholes 21 u and 22 u. Consequently, the disc holding portions 21 a, 21 b,22 a and 22 b are now separated from the outer edge of the disc 100 (notshown).

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the shutters 21and 22 cover the chucking and head openings 11 c and 11 h with the disc100 removed. As shown in FIG. 5, the disc holding portions 21 a, 21 b,22 a and 22 b protrude into the disc storage portion 10 d to hold thedisc 100 (not shown) thereon. On the other hand, FIG. 6 is a perspectiveview illustrating a state where the shutters 21 and 22 expose thechucking and head openings 11 c and 11 h with the disc 100 removed. Asshown in FIG. 6, while the shutters 21 and 22 are opened, the discholding portions 21 a, 21 b, 22 a and 22 b are stored outside of thedisc storage portion 10 d of the cartridge body.

Next, the structure and the operation of the shutters 21 and 22 will bedescribed in further detail with reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. FIG. 7is a cross-sectional view as viewed along a plane that passes the centerof the disc 100 stored in the disc cartridge 301. As shown in FIG. 7,the second inner surface 12 i of the disc storage portion 10 d of thecartridge body 10 is provided with a notch 10 w so as not to interferewith the opening and closing operations of the shutter 22 or 21. Also,the cartridge body 10 further includes a shutter storage portion 10 sfor storing a portion of the shutter 22 or 21 being opened. Furthermore,at least the edge portions 21 f and 22 f of the shutters 21 and 22,which are butted against each other over the head and chucking openings11 h and 11 c while the shutters are closed, overlap with each other inthe thickness direction of the disc 100 as shown in FIG. 7.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, each of the disc holding portions21 a, 21 b, 22 a and 22 b includes a slope 21 a′, 21 b′, 22 a′ or 22 b′,which overhangs a portion of the projection area of the disc andoverlaps with the outer edge of the disc 100. That is to say, the slope21 a′ has a downwardly tapered shape and leans toward the disc 100.While the chucking and head openings 11 c and 11 h are covered with theshutters 21 and 22, the slope 21 a′ is allowed to contact with the outeredge 100 c of the disc 100, thereby gripping the disc 100 thereon andpressing the disc 100 in the thickness direction loot. In this manner,the data recording side 100A is brought into plane contact with thesheets 21 p and 22 p of the shutters 21 and 22 and the disc 100 is heldand fixed onto the cartridge body 10. In such a state, the datarecording side 100A of the disc 100 is in close contact with the sheets21 p and 22 p. Thus, no dust will be deposited on the data recordingside 100A.

Also, if the exposed side of the disc 100 is rotated manually or if theshutters 21 and 22 are opened or closed intentionally, then dust, fingermarks or any other dirt that has adhered onto the data recording side100A of the disc 100 may be wiped away.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, the shutter 21 includes a shutteropening/closing portion 21 t, an elastic portion 21 v and a lockingprotrusion portion 21 k. These portions 21 t, 21 v and 21 k formintegral parts of the shutter 21. Specifically, the shutteropening/closing portion 21 t is used to open and close the shuttersexternally. The locking protrusion portion 21 k is connected to theshutter 21 by way of the elastic portion 21 v. While the shutter 21covers the chucking and head openings 11 c and 11 h, the lockingprotrusion portion 21 k, to which an elastic force is being applied fromthe elastic portion 21 v, engages with a locking hole 10 k of thecartridge body 10, thereby preventing the shutter 21 from rotating andfixing and supporting the shutter 21 to the cartridge body 10 as shownin FIG. 9. Once the shutter 21 is fixed, the other shutter 22, which isinterlocked with the shutter 21 via the interlocking mechanism 20 c, isalso fixed.

Accordingly, only by getting the locking protrusion portion 21 k pressedexternally by a protrusion, for example, in the direction indicated bythe arrow 20A and disengaged from the locking hole 10 k while pressingthe opening/closing portion 21 t in the direction indicated by the arrow20B at the same time, the shutters 21 and 22 can be rotated to exposethe chucking and head openings 11 c and 11 h and the disc 100 can bereleased from the disc holding portions 21 a, 21 b, 22 a and 22 b. Thus,it is possible to prevent the operator from removing the discaccidentally.

Next, the structure and operation of the stopper portions 23 will bedescribed in further detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 10. FIG. 10 isa perspective view illustrating the removable stopper portion 23 upsidedown. The convex portions 23 a, 23 b and 23 c of the stopper portion 23are respectively engaged with concave portions 12 a, 12 b and 12 cprovided for the cartridge upper shell 12 near the disc window 12 wthereof as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the stopper portion 23 can be removedfrom the cartridge upper shell 12.

As described above, the disc cartridge for use in the present inventionincludes the disc storage portion that stores a disc therein with itslabel side fully exposed. On the bottom of the disc storage portion, thehead opening for allowing a read/write head to access the data recordingside of the disc, and the chucking opening for allowing a motor toaccess the disc and rotate it are provided. Unless this disc cartridgeis loaded into a disc drive for reading or writing purposes, the headand chucking openings are always covered with the shutters. Also, thedisc is gripped by the disc holding portions so as not to move withinthe disc storage portion. The stopper portion protrudes into the discwindow and can prevent the disc from dropping through the disc window nomatter whether the shutters are opened or closed.

Embodiment 1

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed. FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a data storagemedium 401 including a disc 101 and a disc cartridge 301 to store thedisc 101 therein. FIG. 12 shows a cross section of the data storagemedium 401 as taken in the thickness direction thereof.

The disc cartridge 301 has the same structure as the disc cartridge 301that has already been described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 10.The disc cartridge 301 stores the disc 101 therein such that the labelside 100B of the disc 101 is fully exposed through the disc window 12 wof the disc cartridge 301. Although not shown in FIG. 11, the discholding portions 21 a, 22 b, 22 a and 22 b provided for the shutters 21and 22 of the disc cartridge 301 hold the disc 101 thereon while thedata storage medium 401 is not yet inserted into a disc drive forreading and writing purposes as described above.

As shown in FIG. 2, the disc 101 includes a data storage layer 1, afirst substrate 11 and a second substrate 2. The data storage layer 1 issandwiched between the first and second substrates 11 and 2. The secondsubstrate 2 has a data recording side 100A. On the other hand, the firstsubstrate 11 has a label side 100B.

The first substrate 11 includes a first layer 13, of which the surfaceis provided with an embossed design 13 a including concave and convexportions, and a second layer 12, which is transparent and covers thesurface of the first layer 13. The second layer 12 fills the unevennessof the design 13 a and has a flat surface. The concave and convexportions of the design 13 a have level differences of 0.2 mm to 1 mm.The first substrate 11 overall preferably has a thickness of at least0.5 mm and more preferably has a thickness of 0.8 mm to 1.4 mm. Thedesign 13 a is the first functional portion provided for the label side100B.

The upper surface 10 f with the disc window 12 w of the cartridge body10 of the disc cartridge 301 is provided with an embossed design 113 aincluding concave and convex portions. The surface of the design 113 ais covered with a transparent portion 112. The design 113 a is thesecond functional portion provided for the disc cartridge 301. Thecartridge body 10 and the first substrate 11 of the disc 101 may beformed by molding polycarbonate, ABS resin or any other suitablematerial.

The design 13 a as the first functional portion and the design 113 a asthe second functional portion are combined together to make up a design13A that looks like a single continuous design. In other words, thedesigns 13 a and 113 a cooperate with each other, thereby producing avisual effect. In the example illustrated in FIG. 11, the designs 113 aand 13 a together make up a picture 13A of a snail creeping on a leaf.The designs 113 a and 13 a and the unified design 13A may be a picture,photo or pattern related to the music or video stored on the datastorage layer 1 beforehand. To unify the combined designs 113 a and 13 aeven more perfectly, the substrate 11 and the cartridge body may be madeof the same material. Also, to increase the degree of unification andthe visual effect, the embossed patterns of the designs 13 a and 113 apreferably have the same depth.

By providing such continuous designs 113 a and 13 a in this manner, thedesign 13A, greater than the label side 100B of the disc 100, can bepresented on the surface of the disc cartridge 301 with the disc window12 w.

In particular, if only the label side 100B is provided with a design,the design must be confined within the circular border of the disc. Incontrast, according to this preferred embodiment, the design 13A mayhave its shape defined by the configuration of the disc cartridge 301.For example, in providing a design that is defined by a substantiallyrectangular configuration, the largest possible design that can beprovided on the label side 100B will be a square that is circumscribedby a circle defined by the label side 100B as shown in FIG. 13A. In thatcase, supposing the radius of the label side 100B is r, each side of thesquare S1 has a length of ≈{square root over ( )}2 r.

On the other hand, if the design can also be provided on the uppersurface of the disc cartridge 301, then the configuration of thesmallest design may be defined by a square S2 that is inscribed by thecircular label side 100B as shown in FIG. 13B. That is to say, thedesign can be provided within the square S2, each side of which has alength of 2r. Thus, the area of the square S2 is twice greater than thatof the square S1. As a result, a greater visual effect is achievable.

In addition, by presenting the unified design 13A over the disccartridge 301 and disc 100 that are not a single member but two separatemembers, a high visual effect is achieved.

To achieve such a visual effect, the disc 101 is preferably held by thedisc cartridge 301 such that the designs 113 a and 13 a make up onecontinuous design 13A. For that purpose, reading and/or writing from/onthe disc 101 in the disc cartridge 301 is preferably carried out withthe disc drive 351 shown in FIG. 14.

The disc drive 351 includes: a supporting portion 180 into which thedisc cartridge 301 is loadable; a spindle motor 182 for mounting androtating the disc 101 stored in the disc cartridge 301; and an opticalhead 181, which can read and/or write data from/on the data storagelayer of the disc 101. The spindle motor 182 is provided with a sensor182′ for detecting the rotational angle of the spindle motor 182. Thedisc drive 351 further includes a rotational angle detector 184 forcalculating the rotational angle based on the output of the sensor 182′and a control section 185 for controlling the rotational angle of thespindle motor 182 in accordance with the angle detector 184. Althoughnot shown in FIG. 14, the disc drive 351 further includes othercomponents that are included in any conventional disc drive.

As already described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 10, when the disccartridge 301 is loaded into the disc drive 351, the shutters 21 and 22of the disc cartridge 301 are opened so that the optical head 181 canaccess the data recording side 100A of the disc 101 through the headopening 11 h. At the same time, the disc 101 is mounted on the spindlemotor 182 through the chucking opening 11 c.

In the meantime, as the shutters 21 and 22 are opened, the disc holdingportions 21 a, 22 b, 22 a and 22 b provided for the shutters 21 and 22release the disc 101. Also, the rotational angle of the spindle motor182 when the disc 101 is mounted on the spindle motor 182 is detected bythe angle detector 184.

When the optical head 181 finishes its read and/or write operation, thecontrol section 185 stops the spindle motor at the rotational angularposition that has been detected by the angle detector 184. Subsequently,as the shutters 21 and 22 are closed, the disc holding portions 21 a, 22b, 22 a and 22 b provided for the shutters 21 and 22 hold and fix thedisc 101 thereon. As a result, the disc 101 is fixed onto the disccartridge 301 such that the design 13 a provided on the label side ofthe disc 101 continues with the design 113 a provided on the uppersurface of the cartridge. Thereafter, the disc cartridge 301 is ejectedfrom the disc drive 351.

In this manner, if this disc drive 402 is used, the rotational angularposition of the disc 101 with respect to the disc cartridge 301 beforethe disc cartridge 301 is inserted into the disc drive 402 is the sameas its position after the disc cartridge 301 has been ejected from thedisc drive 402. Thus, the disc 101 is held by the disc cartridge 301such that the design 13 a provided on the label side of the disc 101always looks continued with the design 113 a provided on the uppersurface of the cartridge body. As a result, the disc cartridge can lookeven more beautiful and a higher visual effect is achieved.

Alternatively, the disc drive 352 shown in FIG. 15 may also be used toread and/or write data from/on the disc 101 stored in the disc cartridge301. If this disc drive 352 is used, an angle mark 14 is made in advanceon the label side 100B of the disc 101.

The disc drive 352 includes: a supporting portion 190 into which thedisc cartridge 301 is loaded; a spindle motor 192 for mounting androtating the disc 101 stored in the disc cartridge 301; and an opticalhead 181, which can read and/or write data from/on the data storagelayer of the disc 101.

The disc drive 352 further includes an angle detector 194 for detectingthe angle mark 14 on the label side 100B of the disc 101 and a controlsection 185. Although not shown in FIG. 15, the disc drive 352 furtherincludes other components that are included in any conventional discdrive.

After the optical head 181 has finished its read and/or write operation,the control section 185 starts the operation of stopping the spindlemotor 192. When the rotational velocity of the spindle motor 192 becomeslower than a predetermined velocity, the control section 185 stops thespindle motor 192 completely at the rotational angular position at whichthe angle detector 184 has detected the angle mark 14. As a result, thedisc 101 can always be stopped at the same rotational angular positionno matter where the rotational angular position of the disc 101 is whenthe disc cartridge 301 is loaded into the disc drive 352.

Accordingly, if the location of the angle mark 14 is determined suchthat the design 13 a provided on the label side of the disc 101 and thedesign 113 a provided on the upper surface of the cartridge body make upa single continuous design 13A at this rotational angular position, thenthe design 13 a provided on the label side of the disc 101 and thedesign 113 a provided on the upper surface of the cartridge always forma single continuous design 13A in the disc cartridge 301 ejected fromthe disc drive 352. Thus, the disc 101 is held by the disc cartridge 301such that the design 13 a provided on the label side of the disc 101always looks continued with the design 113 a provided on the uppersurface of the cartridge. As a result, the disc cartridge can look evenmore beautiful and a higher visual effect is achieved.

It should be noted that the design 113 a does not have to be provided atjust one location with respect to the design 13 a, which looks like asingle continuous one by combining together the designs 13 a and 113 aon the label side of the disc 101 and on the upper surface of thecartridge, respectively. For example, the designs 13 a and 113 a may bearranged so as to look unified at two locations where the rotationalangles of the disc 101 with respect to the disc cartridge 301 are 0degrees and 180 degrees, respectively. Alternatively, the designs 13 aand 113 a may make up unified designs 13A at an even larger number oflocations. Optionally, the designs 13 a and 113 a may also be arrangedso as to look unified irrespective of the rotational angle at which thedisc 101 stops with respect to the disc cartridge 301. In that case, thecombined design can always look unified and produce the desired visualeffect without using the disc drive 351 or 352.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the designs 13 a and 113 aprovided on the label side 100B of the disc 101 and on the upper surfaceof the cartridge are embossed patterns with concave and convex portions.Alternatively, the designs 13 a and 113 a may also be provided as normalflat printings or textured ones. Even if the designs 13 a and 113 a areplanar ones, the intended effects are also achievable by making the twodesigns cooperate with each other as described above. In that case, thefirst substrate 11 of the disc 101 may have an overall thickness of 0.5mm or less, and the disc 101 may be CD, for example. As anotheralternative, each of the designs 113 a and 13 a may also be a hologramthat includes a pattern consisting of many fine grooves engraved on thesurface of the label side 100B and multiple transparent plates anddrawing pattern layers that are stacked under that pattern.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the surfaces of the designs13 a and 113 a are covered with the transparent second substrate 12 andthe transparent portion 112, respectively. However, the secondtransparent substrate 12 and the transparent portion 112 may be omitted.In that case, the concave and convex portions of the designs 13 a and113 a will be exposed on the label side 100B of the disc 101 and on theupper surface 10 f of the disc cartridge 301, respectively. As a result,a tactual effect is also achieved.

In the preferred embodiments described above, the first functionalportion of the disc and the second functional portion of the disccartridge cooperate with each other, thereby achieving an audiovisualeffect. However, if a non-planar first functional portion can beprovided for the disc by setting the thickness of the first substrate 11equal to or greater than 0.5 mm, then the disc itself, including thefirst functional portion, can achieve a novel and excellent audiovisualeffect. More specifically, if a design with the embossed structure asdescribed above is provided as the second functional portion on thelabel side of the disc, then excellent visual effects, which could notbe produced by any conventional disc, are achievable by the stereoscopicdesign. Accordingly, even without making the first functional portioncooperate with the second functional portion, a disc with a lot ofattraction for buyers can be obtained.

In another exemplary disc of which the first functional portion canachieve excellent visual effects by itself, the first layer 13 of thefirst substrate 11 may be made of a material that functions as a carrierfor supporting the data storage layer 1 thereon, while the second layer12 thereof may be made of a film on which a scratch mark can be easilyleft with a coin or a fingernail. Various types of information may beprovided for a disc 101 with such a structure.

For example, if a disc 101 is manufactured so as to have such astructure, the result of a warpage, eccentricity or center of mass teston the disc 101 may be left as a scratch mark on the second layer 12. Inthat case, the location of warpage, eccentricity or center of mass maybe represented by the location of the scratch mark. Also, the degree ofwarpage or eccentricity may also be represented by the size or thenumber of such scratch marks.

As another alternative, various types of character information, forexample, may be printed on the surface of the first layer 13 and may becoated with the second layer 12. In that case, by scratching the secondlayer 12 off with a coin or a fingernail, the character information canbe disclosed. As the character information, a quiz answer, a lotterywinning mark or foretold future (or fortune) may be printed.

Embodiment 2

Hereinafter, a disc cartridge according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention will be described. FIG. 16 is a perspective viewillustrating a data storage medium 402 including a disc 102 and a disccartridge 302 to store the disc 102 therein. FIG. 17 shows a crosssection of the data storage medium 402 as taken in the thicknessdirection thereof.

The disc cartridge 302 has the same structure as the disc cartridge 301that has already been described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 10.The disc cartridge 302 stores the disc 102 therein such that the labelside 100B of the disc 102 is fully exposed through the disc window 12 wof the disc cartridge 311.

As shown in FIG. 17, the disc 102 includes a data storage layer 1, afirst substrate 21 and a second substrate 2. The data storage layer 1 issandwiched between the first and second substrates 21 and 2. The secondsubstrate 2 has a data recording side 100A. On the other hand, the firstsubstrate 21 has a label side 100B.

The first substrate 21 includes a substrate layer 23, which functions asa carrier for supporting the data storage layer 1 thereon, and a tablet22, which is provided on the surface of the substrate layer 23 andon/from which traces representing characters, pictures and so on can bedrawn and erased. The tablet 22 includes a group of small rooms 24, eachof which has a viscous fluid 25 and a magnetic powder 26 and which arearranged like a honeycomb, for example, and a transparent sheet 27 thatcovers the upper surface of the small rooms 24. The tablet 22 functionsas the first functional portion.

As shown in FIG. 17, a magnet plate 211, which is at least as long asthe radial length of the tablet 22, is provided on the bottom 11 u ofthe disc storage portion of the disc cartridge 302 so as to face thedata recording side 100A of the disc 102. The magnet plate 211 does nothave to have its surface exposed on the bottom 11 u but may be embeddedunder the bottom 11 u. The magnet 211 functions as the second functionalportion and erases the pictures, characters and so on that have beendrawn on the tablet 22.

In the disc cartridge 302 that stores the disc 102 therein, the tablet22 as the first functional portion and the magnet 211 as the secondfunctional portion cooperate with each other so as to function as anerasable tablet. More specifically, when the user brings a touch pen220, including a magnet 221 at its tip, into contact with the surface ofthe tablet 22, the magnetic powder 26 in the small rooms 24 is attractedtoward the surface of the tablet 22. As a result, the small rooms 24including the attracted magnetic powder 26 turn into black (or the colorof the colored magnetic powder). Accordingly, as the touch pen 220moves, its traces are displayed in black. In this manner, the user candraw characters, graphics and so on with the touch pen 220.

As shown in FIG. 16, if the disc 102 stored in the disc cartridge 302 isforced to make one rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow 20A,then the magnet plate 211 separates the magnetic powder 26 away from thesurface of the tablet 22. As a result, the characters, graphics and soon that have been displayed on the tablet 22 are erased.

On the other hand, if the disc cartridge 302 including the disc 102 isloaded into a disc drive so as to start reading and/or writingtherefrom/thereon, then the disc 102 will be lifted in the directionindicated by the arrow 22B shown in FIG. 17 so as to be mounted on thespindle motor while being separated from the bottom 11 u of the discstorage portion. Thus, the magnetic force of the magnet plate 211 actingon the magnetic powder 26 is not strong enough to separate the magneticpowder 26 from the surface of the tablet 22. As a result, even if thedisc 102 is rotated by the spindle motor, the characters, graphics, etc.on the tablet 22 are kept as they are.

Thus, according to this preferred embodiment, information about thecontents of the disc 102 (e.g., information about the musical tunes orvideo stored on the disc 102) can be directly written down on the labelside 100B (i.e., the surface) of the disc 102, and the information oncewritten may be erased if necessary. The information writable area coversalmost all of the label side 100B and is sufficiently wide. Accordingly,excellent audiovisual effects are achieved by the tablet 22 and magnetplate 211. In the prior art, such information is noted down on a smallpiece of sticker and then the sticker is put onto a disc cartridge. Ascompared with such a method, it is much easier to write down informationor erase or rewrite the information once written.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the tablet 22 is designedso as to allow the user to write down characters, graphics and so onthere freely. Alternatively, a transparent coordinate input sheet may beprovided on the surface of the tablet 22 such that character or graphicdata may be input as coordinate data.

Embodiment 3

Hereinafter, a disc cartridge according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention will be described. FIG. 18 is a perspective viewillustrating a data storage medium 403 including a disc 103 and a disccartridge 303 to store the disc 103 therein.

The disc cartridge 303 has the same structure as the disc cartridge 301that has already been described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 10.The disc cartridge 303 stores the disc 103 therein such that the labelside 100B of the disc 103 is fully exposed through the disc window 12 wof the disc cartridge 303.

As shown in FIG. 18, the disc 103 includes a display device 30 as thefirst substrate on its label side 100B. The display device 30 ispreferably a matrix-addressed display device, which includes an organicEL, inorganic EL or liquid crystal material. The display device 30functions as the first functional portion.

The disc cartridge 303 includes a loudspeaker 313, a control section 311for controlling the display on the display device 30, a memory 312 onwhich image information to be presented on the display device 30 andaudio information to be reproduced through the loudspeaker 313 isstored, and a power supply 314 for supplying power to these components.These components are all stored in the cartridge body 10 and function asthe second functional portion. The image information and audioinformation may be related to the contents of the disc 103 (e.g.,musical tunes or video stored on the disc 103). Optionally, the memory312 may also be removable discrete memory which is attachable to, andremovable from, the cartridge body 10.

As shown in FIG. 18, body-side terminals 316 a and 316 b connected tothe control section 311 are provided on the slopes of the disc holdingportions 21 b and 22 b of the shutters 21 and 22, respectively. On thelabel side 100B of the disc 103, disc-side terminals 36 a and 36 b areprovided so as to face the body-side terminals 316 a and 316 b,respectively.

Furthermore, the cartridge body 10 is provided with a pair of body-sidemarks 317 and the disc 103 is provided with a pair of disc-side marks37. When the disc 103 is located at such a rotational angular positionthat the body-side terminals 316 a and 316 b contact with the disc-sideterminals 36 a and 36 b, respectively, the disc-side marks 37 arealigned with the body-side marks 317.

While the disc cartridge 303 storing the disc 103 therein is not loadedin a disc drive, the disc 103 is held by the disc holding portions. Inthis case, if the body-side marks 317 are aligned with the disc-sidemarks 37 by rotating the disc 103, then the body-side terminals 316 aand 316 b contact with the disc-side terminals 36 a and 36 b,respectively. As a result, in accordance with the data stored in thememory 312, an image is presented on the display device 30 and sound isreproduced through the loudspeaker 313. Also, if the body-side marks 317are shifted from the disc-side marks 37 by rotating the disc 103, thenthe display of the image and the reproduction of the sound can bestopped.

In getting read and/or write operations started by loading the disccartridge 303 including the disc 103 into a disc drive, as the shutters21 and 22 are going to be opened, the disc holding portions graduallyrelease the disc 103. As a result, the disc holding portions 21 b and 22b retract so as not to contact with the disc 103. Accordingly, even ifthe disc 103 rotates, the body-side terminals 316 a and 316 b will notcontact with the disc-side terminals 36 a and 36 b.

In this manner, according to this embodiment, by using the displaydevice provided on the label side of the disc and the power supply,control section and loudspeaker, which are provided for the disccartridge to present an image on the display device, a moving picture,for example, can be presented on the display section and sound can bereproduced through the loudspeaker. That is to say, the disc cartridge303 including the disc 103 can be a more attractive product byincreasing the audiovisual effects of the disc cartridge 303.Particularly when the image to be displayed is related to a movie, forexample, stored on the disc 103, the contents of the disc 103 can bepresented even more effectively.

Embodiment 4

Hereinafter, a disc cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention will be described. FIG. 19 is a perspective viewillustrating a data storage medium 404 including a disc 104 and a disccartridge 304 to store the disc 104 therein.

The disc cartridge 304 has the same structure as the disc cartridge 301that has already been described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 10.The disc cartridge 304 stores the disc 104 therein such that the labelside 100B of the disc 104 is fully exposed through the disc window 12 wof the disc cartridge 304.

As shown in FIG. 19, the disc 104 includes a planar loudspeaker 40 asthe first substrate on its label side 100B. The planar loudspeaker 40functions as the first functional portion.

The disc cartridge 304 includes a microphone 413, a control section 411for converting audio information and driving the planar loudspeaker 40,a memory 412 in which the audio information is stored, a power supply414 for supplying power to these components, and a switch 417 forelectrically connecting the power supply 414 to the control section 411.The switch 417 can also switch a mode in which sound is recorded withthe microphone 413 into a mode in which the audio information stored inthe memory 412 is reproduced, or vice versa. These components are storedin the cartridge body 10 and function as the second functional portion.The audio information may be related to the contents of the disc 103(e.g., musical tunes or video stored on the disc 103).

The disc cartridge 304 further includes a stopper portion 415, whichprotrudes into the disc window 12 w. On the inside surface of thestopper portion 415, body-side terminals 416 a and 416 b, connected tothe control section 411, are provided so as to face the disc 104.

On the other hand, two disc-side terminals 46 a and 46 b, which are twoconcentric ringlike conductive regions, are provided around the outerperiphery of the planar loudspeaker 40 on the label side 100B of thedisc 104. While the disc 104 is being stored in the disc cartridge 304,the body-side terminals 416 a and 416 b contact with the disc-sideterminals 46 a and 46 b, respectively. Each of the disc-side terminals46 a and 46 b may be divided into a plurality of arcs with a gap, whichis shorter than the length of the body-side terminals 416 a and 416 b asmeasured in the tangential direction of the disc, provided between them.

The stopper portion 415 of this preferred embodiment is supported so asto be rotatable around the fulcrum 415 a and elastic force is appliedfrom a torsion spring, for example, to the stopper portion 415 towardthe disc 104. Accordingly, while the shutters (not shown) are closed andthe disc is held by the disc holding portions, the body-side terminals416 a and 416 b contact with the disc-side terminals 46 a and 46 b,respectively. On the other hand, when the shutters are opened, thestopper portion 415 is raised by the convex portions of the shuttersagainst the elastic force applied. As a result, the body-side terminals416 a and 416 b separate themselves from the disc-side terminals 46 aand 46 b.

The planar loudspeaker 40 as the first functional portion cooperateswith the second functional portion to achieve audiovisual effects.Specifically, if the user turns the switch 417 while the disc cartridge304 including the disc 104 is not loaded in a disc drive, the disccartridge 303 enters a recording mode. In the recording mode, sound canbe recorded with the microphone 413. The recorded sound is converted bythe control section 411 into audio information, which is then stored inthe memory 412. On the other hand, if the disc cartridge 304 is made toenter a reproducing mode by turning the switch 417, then the audioinformation stored in the memory 412 is converted by the control section411 into an audio signal, which is then reproduced through theloudspeaker. The audio information to be reproduced may either have beenrecorded with the disc cartridge 304 or be related to the contents ofthe disc 103 (e.g., musical tunes or video stored on the data storagelayer of the disc 103).

The disc-side terminals 46 a and 46 b of the disc 104 are provided asrings on the label side 100B of the disc 104. Accordingly, no matter atwhat rotational angular position the disc 104 is stored in the disccartridge 304, the body-side terminals 416 a and 416 b can alwayscontact with the disc-side terminals 46 a and 46 b and sound is alwaysready to be reproduced or recorded.

On the other hand, when the disc cartridge 303 including the disc 104 isloaded into a disc drive, the shutters of the disc cartridge 303 areopened and the disc holding portions release the disc 104. At this time,the stopper portion 415 is lifted and the body-side terminals 416 a and416 b separate themselves from the disc-side terminals 46 a and 46 b.Accordingly, while read and/or write operation is being carried out onthe disc 104, the rotation of the disc 104 is not interfered with by thecontact of the body-side terminals 416 a and 416 b with the disc-sideterminals 46 a and 46 b.

In this manner, according to this preferred embodiment, sound can bereproduced through the planar loudspeaker on the label side of the discby using the loudspeaker and the memory (in which audio information isstored) and the control section in the disc cartridge. That is to say,the disc cartridge 304 including the disc 104 can be a more attractiveproduct by increasing the audiovisual effects of the disc cartridge 304.In particular, if sound that is related to the musical tunes or movie onthe disc 103 is stored in the memory, then a part of the contents can belistened to even without using a disc drive. As a result, the contentsof the disc 104 can be presented even more effectively and attractivelyenough for customers.

In the preferred embodiment described above, the sound reproduction iscontrolled by using the switch. However, the switch may be replaced withany other means. For example, a data storage medium 404 including a disc104′ and a disc cartridge 304′ such as that shown in FIG. 20 includes adisc-side terminal 46 c with an electrically conductive land-likesurface on the label side 100B of the disc 104′ in place of the ringlikedisc-side terminal 46 b and a body-side terminal 416 c with anelectrically conductive land-like surface on the upper surface of thecartridge body in place of the body-side terminal 416 b, respectively.To reproduce the audio information that is stored in the memory 414, theuser touches the disc-side and body-side terminals 46 c and 416 c withhis or her fingers at the same time. Then, current flows between theseterminals and the sound can be reproduced. By using such a structure,the switch can be omitted.

Embodiment 5

Hereinafter, a disc cartridge according to a fifth embodiment of thepresent invention will be described. FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional viewillustrating a data storage medium 405 including a disc 105 and a disccartridge 305 to store the disc 105 therein.

The disc cartridge 305 has the same structure as the disc cartridge 301that has already been described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 10.The disc cartridge 305 stores the disc 105 therein such that the labelside 100B of the disc 105 is fully exposed through the disc window 12 wof the disc cartridge 305.

As shown in FIG. 21, the disc 105 includes a data storage layer 1, afirst substrate 51 and a second substrate 2. The data storage layer 1 issandwiched between the first and second substrates 51 and 2. The secondsubstrate 2 serves as the data recording side 100A, while the firstsubstrate 51 serves as the label side 100B.

The first substrate 51 includes a substrate layer 53 functioning as acarrier to support the data storage layer 1 thereon and apressure-sensitive layer 52 provided on the surface of the substratelayer 53. When pressure is applied onto the surface of thepressure-sensitive layer 52 (i.e., onto the label side 100B), thepressure-sensitive layer 52 changes its color. Optionally, apressure-sensitive layer 52, of which the color density changes with thepressure, may be used. The pressure-sensitive layer 52 serves as thefirst functional portion. The pressure-sensitive layer 52 does not haveto cover the substrate layer 53 entirely but may be divided intomultiple regions that are arranged at regular intervals, for example.

On the other hand, the disc cartridge 305 has a recess 550 on the bottomof the disc storage portion such that a space 550S is present under thedata recording area 1S of the data recording side 100A when the disc 105is stored in the disc cartridge 305. The recess 550 may be provided forthe shutters 21 and 22 of the disc cartridge 301 that has already beendescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 through 10. The recess 550 has adepth GA and serves as the second functional portion.

When the user presses the disc 105 on the label side 100B thereof, thedisc 105 is flexed. As shown in FIG. 21, if the amount of flexurereaches approximately 80% of GA, for example, as indicated by the dashedcurve 50′, then the pressure-sensitive layer changes its color to showan alert that the disc 105 might get scratched due to contact of thedata recording side 100A with the bottom of the recess 550.

In the preferred embodiments described above, the disc cartridges havethe structure shown in FIGS. 1 through 10 in common. However, the disccartridge may also have any other structure as long as the disccartridge can store a disc therein with the label side thereof exposed.For example, according to the present invention, the structure of thedisc cartridge 351 shown in FIG. 21 may be adopted. As shown in FIG. 21,the disc cartridge 351 includes a cartridge upper shell 352, a cartridgelower shell 357, a rotational member 353, shutters 354 and 355, and astopper portion 358. The cartridge upper and lower shells 352 and 357include a disc storage portion 10 d with a disc window 12 w just likethe disc cartridge 301.

The shutters 354 and 355 are provided on the bottom of the disc storageportion 10 d so as to expose or cover the head opening 11 h.

The rotational member 353 is held over the shutters 354 and 355 in thedisc storage portion 10 d, and includes protrusions 353 e and 353 f.Also, the shutters 354 and 355 are provided with grooves 354 e and 355 fthat engage with the protrusions 353 e and 353 f, respectively.Accordingly, by rotating the rotational member 353, the shutters 354 and355 can be opened and closed.

The rotational member 353 includes a disc receiving portion 359, whichcontacts with the outer periphery of the data side 100A of the disc 100and receives the data 100 thereon when the shutters 354 and 355 areclosed, and a notch 359 c, which is provided for the disc receivingportion so as to be located inside of the head opening when the shuttersare opened.

The disc storage portion 10 d includes a sidewall 12 i around the outerperiphery of the bottom. The disc holding portions 21 b, 22 a and 22 bof the shutters 354 and 355 hold the disc 100 thereon with the center ofthe disc 100 offset from that of the disc storage portion 10 d such thatthe outer side surface of the disc 100 contacts with the sidewall 12 iof the disc storage portion 10 d in the region where the notch 359 c ofthe rotational member 353 is present while the shutters are closed.Also, while the disc 100 is being held by the disc holding portions 21b, 22 a and 22 b, the outer periphery of the data recording side 100A ofthe disc contacts with the disc receiving portion 359.

The shutters 354 and 355 are provided with a hole 20 h corresponding tothe center hole of the disc 100. Also, protrusions are provided so as tosurround the hole 20 h. While the shutters are closed and the disc 100is held by the disc holding portions 21 b, 22 a and 22 b, the datarecording side of the disc 100 contacts with the disc receiving portion359 and the protrusions 360. Also, as described above, where the discreceiving portion 359 is not present, the disc contacts with thesidewall 121. Accordingly, a closed space is formed under the datarecording area of the disc 100. By providing this space, no dust will bedeposited on the data recording area and the data recording area willnot get scratched due to contact with the disc cartridge.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, a disc and a disc cartridge, whichachieve novel and excellent audiovisual effects that have never beenaccomplished by any conventional disc or disc cartridge and which arevery attractive for buyers, are realized. In addition, a disc drive isalso provided for such a disc or disc cartridge.

1. A disc cartridge for storing a disc that has a first side with afirst functional portion and a second side, the disc cartridgecomprising: a cartridge body including a disc storage portion, achucking opening and a head opening, wherein the disc storage portionhas a disc window and a bottom and stores the disc therein so that thefirst side thereof is exposed through the disc window; the chuckingopening is provided on the bottom of the disc storage portion so as toget the disc chucked externally; and the head opening is also providedon the bottom of the disc storage portion so as to allow a head, whichreads and/or writes data from/on the second side of the disc, to accessthe second side of the disc; a shutter, which is supported to, andmovable with respect to, the cartridge body so as to expose or cover atleast the head opening; and a second functional portion, which isprovided for the cartridge body and which produces an audiovisual effectby cooperating with the first functional portion of the disc.
 2. Thedisc cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first and second functionalportions produce a visual effect by cooperating with each other.
 3. Thedisc cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first and second functionalportions produce an audio effect by cooperating with each other.
 4. Thedisc cartridge of claim 1, wherein audiovisual information is stored onthe second side of the disc, and the audiovisual effect is associatedwith the audiovisual information on the second side of the disc.
 5. Thedisc cartridge of claim 2, wherein the first functional portion is afirst design provided on the first side, the second functional portionis a second design provided on a portion of the upper surface of thecartridge body near the disc window, and the first and second designsare combined together to make up a third design that looks like a singlecontinuous design.
 6. The disc cartridge of claim 5, wherein the firstdesign is a picture drawn on the first side and the second design is apicture drawn on the upper surface.
 7. The disc cartridge of claim 6,wherein the first and second designs are planar.
 8. The disc cartridgeof claim 6, wherein the first and second designs are embossed.
 9. Thedisc cartridge of claim 8, wherein the depth of the first embosseddesign is substantially equal to that of the second embossed design. 10.The disc cartridge of claim 6, wherein the first side of the disc andthe upper surface of the cartridge body are textured.
 11. The disccartridge of claim 6, wherein the first and second designs areholograms.
 12. The disc cartridge of claim 2, wherein the firstfunctional portion is a tablet that is provided on the first side toallow the user to draw or erase any traces thereon or therefrom, and thesecond functional portion is an erasing portion that is provided for thecartridge body and is used for erasing the traces that have been drawnon the tablet.
 13. The disc cartridge of claim 12, wherein the tabletincludes a magnetic body so as to allow the user to draw the traces bybringing a magnet or another magnetic body close to the surface of thetablet.
 14. The disc cartridge of claim 13, wherein the tablet includesa plurality of small rooms, each being filled with a viscous fluid and amagnetic powder.
 15. The disc cartridge of claim 14, wherein the erasingportion is a magnet plate that is provided on the bottom of the discstorage portion of the cartridge body.
 16. The disc cartridge of claim15, wherein the traces that have been drawn on the tablet are erased byrotating the disc within the disc storage portion of the cartridge body.17. The disc cartridge of claim 2, wherein the first functional portionis a matrix-addressed display device that is provided on the first sideand that includes a liquid crystal, organic EL or inorganic EL material,and wherein the second functional portion is provided for the cartridgebody and includes a control section for driving the matrix-addresseddisplay device, a memory for storing image data to be presented on thematrix-addressed display device, and a power supply for supplying powerto the matrix-addressed display device.
 18. The disc cartridge of claim17, wherein the second functional portion further includes a loudspeakerprovided for the cartridge body.
 19. The disc cartridge of claim 17,wherein the first functional portion further includes a transparenttablet on the surface of the matrix-addressed display device such thatinformation fed into the tablet is displayed on the matrix-addresseddisplay device.
 20. The disc cartridge of claim 3, wherein the firstfunctional portion is a planar loudspeaker that is provided on the firstside, and wherein the second functional portion includes a memory forstoring audio information to be reproduced through the planarloudspeaker, a control section for converting the audio information andtransmitting a signal to the planar loudspeaker, and a power supply forsupplying power to the control section.
 21. The disc cartridge of claim18, wherein the second functional portion further includes a microphonethat is provided for the cartridge body, and wherein the control sectionconverts sound, recorded with the microphone, into the audio informationand then stores the information in the memory.
 22. The disc cartridge ofone of claim 17, wherein the disc includes a disc-side terminal, whichis connected to the first functional portion and which is provided onthe outer periphery of the disc, and wherein the cartridge body includesa body-side terminal which is connected to the second functionalportion.
 23. The disc cartridge of claim 22, wherein the disc cartridgefurther includes a disc holding portion for holding the disc thereonwhile the shutter is closed, and wherein the disc-side and body-sideterminals are contactable with each other while the disc is being heldby the disc holding portion.
 24. The disc cartridge of claim 23, whereinthe disc-side terminal is a plurality of concentric ringlike conductiveregions provided along the outer periphery of the disc.
 25. The disccartridge of claim 23, wherein the disc has a disc-side mark and thecartridge body has a body-side mark, and wherein when the disc isrotated within the disc storage portion of the cartridge body such thatthe disc-side and body-side marks are aligned with each other, thedisc-side and body-side terminals contact with each other.
 26. The disccartridge of claim 17, wherein the disc includes a disc-side terminal,which is connected to the first functional portion, provided on thefirst side and has a conductive surface, while the cartridge bodyincludes a body-side terminal, which is connected to the secondfunctional portion, provided on the upper surface of the cartridge bodyand has a conductive surface, and wherein when the disc-side andbody-side terminals are touched with fingers at the same time, the firstand second functional portions are electrically connected together. 27.A disc drive comprising: a supporting portion into which the disccartridge of claim 1 is loadable, a disc having a first side with afirst functional portion and a second side being stored in the disccartridge; a spindle motor for mounting and rotating the disc thereon; ahead, which is able to read and/or write data from/on the second side ofthe disc; a sensor for detecting a rotational angular position of thespindle motor when the disc is mounted on the spindle motor; and acontrol section for controlling the spindle motor in accordance with acommand to eject the disc cartridge such that the spindle motor stops atthe rotational angular position when the disc is mounted thereon.
 28. Adisc drive comprising: a supporting portion into which the disccartridge of one of claims 1 to 16 claim 1 is loadable, a disc having afirst side with a first functional portion and a second side beingstored in the disc cartridge; a spindle motor for mounting and rotatingthe disc thereon; a head, which is able to read and/or write datafrom/on the second side of the disc; a sensor for detecting a mark onthe second side of the disc; and a control section for controlling thespindle motor such that the spindle motor stops at a position where themark of the disc is detected.